People across Cornwall will be taking part in activities to thank the frontline staff and volunteers who stepped up during the coronavirus pandemic.

Today (Sunday July 4) is national Thankyou Day – and there are several moments throughout the day, wherever you are, to join in and thank the volunteers who have helped all of us through the last 18 months.

One such community enjoying a socially distanced celebration will be the Lostwithiel Community Centre, which is throwing a Big Lunch to say thank you to the selfless volunteers that stepped up during the past year.

Around 30 volunteers are expected at the 2pm tea party thrown by the centre staff to recognise and celebrate their hard work.

Kirsty Mitchell, who runs the community centre, says: “We were blown away by the support of our amazing volunteers during the pandemic. They ensured the whole village had a contact for their street and an army of volunteers were available to shop, pick up presciptions and give guidance to all of our residents.

“At the height of the crisis, we had a team packing hundreds of food boxes for local children over the summer. They were absolutely invaluable and we couldn’t have helped so many people without them. The least we can do is to recognise that support on National Thank You Day and throw them a Big Lunch.”

The Big Lunch, the UK’s annual get-together for neighbours, is one of the flagship Thank You Day activities this weekend, urging neighbours and communities to come together for a bite to eat. The Big Lunch is an idea from the Eden Project, made possible by the National Lottery and supported by Iceland and The Food Warehouse.

Lindsey Brummitt from the Eden Project, founders of The Big Lunch, says: “Lostwithiel is my local community so I know just how incredible the community response has been and how much it has helped local residents over the past 18 months. A day like today where we can bring people who have supported the community together to connect, make friends, share food and say thank you to them is so important. That’s what The Big Lunch has always been about, it’s the UKs annual thanks giving weekend for neighbours and communities so joining in this year as part of Thank You Day has made it extra special.”

Meanwhile tomorrow (Monday July 5) will be a day specifically for highlighting the efforts and sacrifices of NHS social care and frontline workers.

In Torpoint, people will be coming together for a thankyou event at Sparrow Park, arranged by the Town Council.

Schoolchildren, councillors and representatives of organisations in the town will be taking part in the short ceremony at 10.45am, and members of the public are welcome to come along too, says the Town Council.

The Royal Voluntary Service is publicising the following timetable of events for today’s Thankyou Day:

9am - Join in an hours exercise across our country’s green spaces, followed by a NCT picnic brunch to say thank you to our families, friends and volunteers.

11am - Communities are taking part in a ’Power Hour’ to tidy up our shared spaces, a way of saying thanks to our local environment for keeping us sane during lock down.

1pm - The Big Lunch invites people to share friendship, food and fun to say thank you with neighbours and their community.

3pm - Thank you for the Music! Dust of your instruments and warm up those vocal chords. Play or sing-a-long in a UK wide performance with your friends, local community or music group!

4.40pm - Join us at our Virtual Village Hall where Ross Kemp will hosting a quick quiz before counting down to 5pm and inviting the nation to join him to say Cheers for Volunteers.

5pm - Cheers for Volunteers: Raise a glass (or a mug!) to everyone who has helped us through the past year.

Are you part of a group or community taking part in Thankyou Day? Let us know what you’re doing and send a photo to [email protected]!